Mark your calendars: April 23

From: Friends of The Houston Post/SPJ
When: Saturday, April 23, 6 p.m.

Fellow Friends of The Houston Post:
We are in the process of planning activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the closing of the Post. The committee -- it's a small one -- is still working out the logistics, but we wanted to make certain you marked your calendar for Saturday, April 23.

What will happen that day and/or evening is still being determined. In true Post fashion it sort of depends on the funds we have available. The Hobbys are considering hosting a reception on the 23rd but are concerned about the number of ex-Post folks who will attend. So please let us know if you will be able to make it to the reception ASAP.

We are asking for a $25 donation to help cover the costs of the reception on the evening of the 23rd -- either at the Hobbys or at a local hotel (or a suitable location). The donation should cover catering costs for the reception so we can celebrate in the appropriate fashion (we are planning on a cash bar). Please forward your $25 to Eileen O'Grady at 12111 Olympia, Houston, Texas 77077.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation. Also, we are planning a panel discussion for the morning or afternoon of the 23rd. The topic is "How News Media Coverage Has Changed in Houston During the Past 10 Years." OK, it's not a nailbiter, but we want to make certain it's a productive discussion. So far Ron Stone Sr. has agreed to moderate the panel discussion and UH journalism professor David McHam has signed on as a panelist.

Within the next few weeks we should have more details available about what will happen on April 23rd. If there is anything you would like the FOTHP Committee to consider including, please send us a note. Look forward to seeing everyone on April 23.

Mike Cinelli, Eileen O'Grady

The Burgin record

By way of the Brazosport News, a blog not to miss run by a former Postie, is this remembrance of Dave Burgin and Burgin's remembrance of Hunter S. Thompson.

Gardner Selby checks in

Gardner Selby joins the Austin American-Statesman as its chief political writer next week. To catch up, message him (next week) at wgselby@statesman.com ... His last day at the Express-News offices will be Wednesday Feb. 23. There's an article about him at Capitol Inside that you can read here.

Those were the days

Here's an oldie but a goodie. It was 1987: Iran-Contra, Gary Hart, Jessica McClure, the Chunnel and "Fatal Attraction." Hilary Duff was born and Fred Astaire died. Remember now? Click here to make the photo really big.

You may need to e-mail again?

I found Allen's e-mail in my hotmail junk folder. I hate Microsoft. If you e-mailed earlier and I never acknowledged, write again please.

Allen Cone's in Florida

From Allen Cone: I've joined Ben Crandell as part of the of Houston Post alumni association at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. I'm a news copy editor on the night desk. I started here on Oct. 11. I moved my family to Boca Raton at the start of the year. For the previous five years I was a sports copy editor at the Las VegasReview-Journal. My home e-mail address is cones@adelphia.net. Work is acone@sun-sentinel.com I'm planning on making it to Houston for the reunion.

2002 reunion

This was the Missouri City reunion in 2002.

When was this one?

Does anyone know what year this reunion was?

Middy Randerson, R.N.

Got an e-mail from Middy Randerson, former Post travel editor, who is now a nurse at Memorial Hermann Hospital System. You can reconnect with Middy at middrand@aol.com

E-mail from Cliff Cargill

Reminder the Post reunion is Saturday April 30 from 9 am til 1 pm at Community Park in Missouri City.

Attached is a map.

Some of you are new to this list. There has been a reunion each year since the post closed with this group. They are a mix of people from different areas of the paper. All I try to do is get somewhere to meet and inform everyone I can. There seems to be additional interest this year due to the 10-year anniversary of the closing.

The pavilion is large with restrooms, tables and is covered. You can bring a lunch and drinks, but the park doesn't allow alcoholic beverages (don't get caught). I (and others) try to take a group picture at noon. I will send the picture to everyone via email and those without email if requested (if snail mail then bring $2.50 for printing, stamp and trouble).

We will be at pavilion 4, which is at the back of the park near the elementary school (close to the playground with swings and stuff at the school). I will have some kind of sign that says reunion or Post or both -I hope! It is a large park but when you enter keep going to the left and it will take you to the pavilion.

Directions to the park: The park is next to Lake Olympia and Quail Valley. The best way to get there IS ... take Glenn Lakes Blvd. off highway 6 (if you are coming from Sugar Land direction you will turn left and if you are coming from Pearland direction turn right on to Glenn Lakes Blvd.) From highway 6 it is 2 miles to the park. The address of the park is 1700 Glenn Lakes Blvd.

Hope this gets to everyone but just in case, check with your Post friends.

Cliff Cargill (Finance & Accounting) 281-261-5801
ccargill1@houston.rr.com
cc0075@yahoo.com

Way-Back Machine set on 2000

I found some photos of the 5th Toasted Posties reunion in Houston. Check these out:

The multi-talented Craig H. Hartley's pix
The late, great Dave Butler's pix
The always fabulous Dave Ellison's pix
The formerly known as Laura Haynes' pix

The more the merrier

Cliff Cargill is putting together another 10th anniversary Houston Post reunion (9-1 April 30) at a park in Missouri City.

He'll be sending out directions to everyone on his e-mail list soon. Get on his e-mail list by dropping him a line. I'll post his info here, as well.

His contact info is: 281-261-5801 ccargill1@houston.rr.com

Update from Eileen

Folks: it's been a hectic week and i know i'm behind. i hope to send an update of last saturday's meeting tomorrow. i don't think we can meet this saturday. we are making progress and will need to meet again soon, but i think we can skip this week until we get some answers from Hobbys, KUHT, etc.

Please check theupdate and send comments.

thanks. eileen

Posting privileges

Are you a toasted Postie who would like to post here? Send me your email address and I'll put your name in the pile. There are only two requirements: You must be a former Houston Postie and you must have (or create) an account (it's free and it's easy) with Blogger.com to have access, but that's it. It would be great if more voices were heard, so please climb aboard. Email me at lauraweisman@hotmail.com and I'll add you to the list.

Meeting 10 a.m. Saturday

Hi, Folks.

We are planning to meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Jungman Branch Library at 5830 Westheimer, a few blocks west of the Galleria. The library is between Chimney Rock and Fountain View on the north side.

I have confirmation from Eric Gerber, Liz Bennett, Erwin Seba, Beverly NarumRoth, Mike Cinelli and me. Anyone else planning to come?

If you can't make the meeting, but have other ideas, thoughts, comments, please send along any time. We'll put a list of contact names and info. together Sat.

eileen

Stinky niche marketing

Check out this Romenesko item about a new youth-oriented mag produced by the The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News owners (and we all know who they are). How are they selling this to advertisers? Bias "will help you carve up your market like Jeff Dahmer at a Rohypnol party." Classy. It's from a Westword article:

Only MediaNews head Dean Singleton tackled the question directly, albeit briefly. Via e-mail, he wrote, "We don't comment on products before they're publicly launched," adding, "MediaNews is launching many niche products in all of our newspapers. This is where most of our growth is coming to offset core product maturity."

Eileen's e-mail from today

Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 9:52 AM

Subject: Post reunion update

Post friends and SPJers,

I'm trying to get a group together this Saturday morning, Feb. 12, to further
our Post SPJ event/ Social planning. I'm thinking of meeting around 9 or 10 a.m. I need to know how many people can come to find a suitable location to meet. Please let me know if you can come and/or any public meeting site ideas. If you can't make it, no problem, I'll forward the meeting results.

Attached is a file with some early ideas so that everyone knows the ideas that are floating around. Commnets/new ideas are welcome.

The primary thing we need ASAP is to pin down a date. We've been working with Sat., April 23, to keep it close to the anniversary date. Are there too many conflicts with Passover and Houston International Festival?

Ron Stone is willing to moderate our SPJ panel discussion and put together a
budget for a possible video if we pursue that.

Also, Laura Haynes Weisman says her website from the 5th anniversary party is
still available to be updated. I hope we can use this as our primary vehicle to
get details out about the events.

Fred King and others are working to compile email addresses for former colleagues. Please pull together contacts you might have and send to me. here's the website address: http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/toastedposties/ (don't go there, go here! laura)

Please let me know of your availability Saturday.

Thanks to all, eileen

HERE IS THE ATTACHMENT:

SPJ/ POST ANNIVERSARY REUNION IDEAS

Possible schedule: A Saturday morning panel discussion, sponsored by SPJ, followed by a Saturday afternoon/evening reception at a hotel or other location. Leave Friday night/ Saturday afternoon for local hosts to sponsor smaller gatherings at homes, etc.

Timing: April or later?
April 23: is there too much conflict with Passover, Houston International Festival?

SPJ-SPONSORED PANEL DISCUSSION

Topics:

Good and bad effects of a one-newspaper town

Would Enron have happened if Houston had remained a two-newspaper town?

Ron Stone as possible panel moderator

Find famous former Post employees to speak or participate. Who's famous?

Honor a famous former Post employee? Oveta Culp Hobby?

POST RECEPTION IDEAS

Need location, do we need central hotel destination for out-of-towners? Hospitality room?

Have a video loop playing at reception

Topics: Have real people interviewed. ``Why I miss the Post.''
Or Interview former Post employees about the newsroom, Houston news highlights over the years, etc.

Auction (to raise money for the next reunion or to keep the website running or a charity.)

Newly designed T-shirts

Old T-shirts, hats or other donated items

Historic front pages, papers

New/Old photos donated by Post photographers?

WEBSITE IDEAS

(does a website still exist?)

Create a new website that would be a permanent place for old Post Toasties to stay in touch.

Include:

All information on the SPJ/Reunion event.. Post photos/video afterward.

`Where are they now,' listing. Directory of who works/lives where. Contact information.

`Who's no longer with us' Deaths.

Chat room?

POSSIBLE SPONSORS/ MONEY TYPES

ODD IDEAS

Historical Exhibit, photos and papers

Joel Draut works at Houston Public Library. Might get help or display space from Printing Museum of Houston.

Bus Tour of new Houston landmarks for out-of-town visitors.

Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, Reliant Park, what else?

Tour could include drive-by of old Houston Post locations.

RSS feed

Welcome to the new blog

Hi Toasted Posties!

The old site is dead until I can remember the password to get in and edit it. It's so ugly anyway, and a blog is probably much better because it's much more democratic. I've never done a blog though, so bear with me.

If anyone out there wants to help with the administrative duties of this puppy, make yourself known and I'll figure out how to get you access.

More to come when I figure out how this works. In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves.

Pls post comments under each blog post. You can reach me at lauraweisman@hotmail.com